or, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Fear and Loathing at a Public Library Reference Desk


NELA-ITS Spring Program 2007 – Elizabeth Thomsen

   June 6th, 2007 Brian Herzog

Elizabeth Thomsen speakingElizabeth Thomsen, NOBLE
Elizabeth energetically spoke on the world of software in general: how it is developed, how it should be viewed, and what is necessary to making good software:

  • Her basic message: Software is easy!
  • Software should be designed to be used by people. Therefore, any shortcomings of the software is the fault of the programmers, and users can't be blamed for errors
  • Communication is vital to development, both amongst programmers and between programmers and users; users should be seen as co-developers
  • Design is important, as poor design can hide even the best features
  • A few quotes from Brook's Law to underscore pitfalls with software development:
    • "Adding manpower to a late software project makes it later"
    • "Childbirth takes nine months no matter how many women are assigned to the task"

   [view Elizabeth's presentation]

Speakers

elizabeth thomsen, libraries, library, nela, nela-its, open source



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Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Open Source

   May 17th, 2007 Brian Herzog

Looking for a way to learn more about using open source tools in your library? Sure, we all are. Have I got a program for you...

One committees I'm on is the Information Technology Section of the New England Library Association. In addition to going to the meetings and sponsoring sessions at NELA's annual conference, we're also planning the NELA-ITS Spring Program, called "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Open Source."

This program is being held Wednesday, June 6, 2007, at the Tower Hill Botanic Garden, in Boylston, MA. I'm looking forward to going, both for the program itself and because I've heard Tower Hill is a great place to spend a nice day outside.

More about the program:

Program Schedule:
9:30 Registration and Breakfast
10:00 Opening Session - Elizabeth Thomsen, North of Boston Library Exchange
11:00 Break
11:15 Koha Open Source ILS - Joshua Ferraro, Liblime
12:15 Lunch
1:00 Running Linux Applications in a Public Library - Randy Robertshaw, Tyngsboro Public Library
1:55 Flavors of Linux (Ubuntu and more!) - Wes Hamilton, Technology Coordinator, Western MA Regional Library System
2:40 Q & A with our panel of speakers
3:30 Program ends

Cost: NELA Members - $40 Non-members - $50

More details and online registration is available, but feel free to ask me any questions you might have, too.

Going to various committee meetings is okay, but I really enjoy getting off the desk and out of the library to find out what other librarians are doing and how they handle the same issues I see in my own library. This program will be great for that - maybe I'll see you there.

Elizabeth Thomsen, ils, information technology section, Joshua Ferraro, Koha, koha, Liblime, libraries, library, linux, Linux in a Public Library, nela, nela-ite, nela-its, new england, new england library association, open source, Open Source ILS, public libraries, public library, Randy Robertshaw, spring program, tower hill, Tower Hill Botanic Garden, tower hill botanical gardens, Ubuntu, Wes Hamilton



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